No. 261, January 2017

The Original Impressionist Giovanni Battista Guadagnini’s work alluded to the violins of past masters, but in a style all his own By Philip J. Kass   The Holy Grail (of Cellos) The spring 2016 sale of the 1743 ‘ex-Havemeyer’ Guadagnini broke auction records, reminding the world of the beauty and playability of this Italian master’s cellos By Inge Kjemtrup   Instruments of the Soul Five players on the magical voices of their Guadagnini instruments Compiled by Stephanie Powell   Editor’s Note   News & Notes Remembering Sir Neville Marriner; violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins wins $50K Sphinx Career Grant; plus Milestones; 5 minutes with violist Nadia Sirota, and more   News Spotlight Tokyo’s Suntory Hall celebrates 30 years   Letter from the Crypt Cellist Matt Haimovitz conjures Bach and recent commissions in an unusual venue   Curtain Call Fiddler Sara Watkins on a tribute to American fiddler Byron Berline   Your Instrument Learn how to look at wood, and its grain, like a violin maker